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Good hardware synths for $500
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| Stephen Wiley |
| I've got around $500 and 1 MIDI I/O and I want to add a nice synth to my collection. I would prefer it to be a rack as I already have a nice keyboard and don't have room for another. Interested in both new and used synths. I'll take a prophet 8 ;) |
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| Joss Weatherby |
| i got a virus b for a bit over 500$ |
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| Subtle |
| quote: | Originally posted by Joss Weatherby
i got a virus b for a bit over 500$ |
It rocks! |
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| cryophonik |
| Can't go wrong with a Virus B in that price range, but another great option is the Nord 2. However, I'd strongly suggest saving a little more for the Nord 2X - it has much greater onboard memory and you don't have to deal with the memory cards, which are expensive and hard to find. I see Nord Rack 2X's for $600-650 fairly regularly in my neck of the woods (northern Cali) and on eBay. |
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| StephenWiley |
Nord 2 clearly better than the Virus B? I know it's probably not by much because it appears to cost about 20% more....
Would you happen to know the strengths and weaknesses of each? I'm looking for very "warm"(Enriched) sounds. Atmospherics, pads, soothing type stuff. I don't need any percussion or kicks. Some smooth bass would be cool. My major desire though is a very harmonic sounding piece of equipment. Electro piss elements and distortion are highlty unappealing to me. I simply have no use for them other than maybe some slight distortion but I have software plugs for that, so again, just looking for a very smooth, rich sound.... |
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| Subtle |
| quote: | Originally posted by StephenWiley
Nord 2 clearly better than the Virus B? I know it's probably not by much because it appears to cost about 20% more....
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Nord is good, but Virus is a lot more feature packed and versatile.
The price of the Virus A, B, C are lower because of the TI. |
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| orTofønChiLd |
| i wouldn't touch a virus without the virus control integration screen, trying to program it with that little blue screen is irritating. |
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| Existo22 |
For melodic elements and this type of sound I suggest you take a look at the Waldorf Blofeld. It comes with 1000 sounds its 09 technology not 97 like the virus b and its quickly gaining popularity with ambient producers.
Not everybody wants to make ''dirty electro''
Price tag $500 |
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| gr8ape |
cant go wrong with virus
save up for a C |
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| cryophonik |
| quote: | Originally posted by StephenWiley
Nord 2 clearly better than the Virus B? |
Feature-wise, no. As Subtle mentioned, the Virus is much more feature-packed. Sound-wise, it's really a matter of preference.
| quote: | Originally posted by StephenWiley
Would you happen to know the strengths and weaknesses of each? |
Either one will get you the sounds you're looking for, but I'd say that the Nords excel on the more aggressive sounds (e.g., nasty, gritty leads and basses) than the Virus and the Nord produces some killer pads. As far as a strength/weakness comparison between a Nord 2/2X and Virus B go, here are a few off the top of my head:
Virus:
Strengths: Decent display, 16-part multi-timbral, lotsa arp options, good on-board FX, lotsa oscillator, LFO, and filter types, more voices (24)
Weakness: more menu-diving (but, I don't think it's as bad as everyone says it is)
Nord:
Strengths: excellent DACs, knobby interface/less menu-diving, morphing
Weakness: no on-board FX, 2-digit display (i.e., no ability to see patch name), 4-part multi-timbral, very basic arp section, less voices (16)
Looking at that, you'd probably think that the Virus is the hands-down winner because of its features and perhaps rightfully so, but when it comes down to the sound, I love them both, but generally prefer the sound of the Nords. Bottom line, though, is that for $500 either one is very good and both are a lot of fun. |
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| spolitta |
There are so many options within your budget. It really depends what kind of sound you're after, I mean don't just buy a hardware synth for the sake of buying hardware, but buy it if you are convinced the sounds you want is very hard to recreate using soft synth and the hardware synth you are getting will help you in creating those sounds.
VA:
Waldorf Microwave
Virus B
Nord Modular
Nord Rack 2/2X
Kawai K5000
Novation Nova
Analog:
Roland SH series
Oberheim Matrix-1000
Edit: Dave Smith Evolver Desktop |
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